THE ALPHA'S OUTCAST HYBRID

CHAPTER ONE BORN IN THE WRONG PACK The ground rushed up and slammed into her. Pain exploded through Lyra's ribs. She tasted blood and dirt. Cold air cut into her lungs as he dragged in a breath. Behind her,the snap twigs. Low growls. She couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Run. Her legs shook but she forced herself up. Each step sent fire through her body. Thick trees closed in her, branches clawing at her skin. The forest was a maze and she was already lost. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. She didn't look back. If she looked back,she'd froze. And if she froze they'd have her. Lyra lifted her head and stopped cold. Someone was there. At the edge of the clearing stood a man. Tall. Motionless. He didn't need to move to be terrifying. The entire woods felt it quieter with him in it. When his eyes caught the moonlight,they burned gold. An Alpha. She felt it before she could think. Her body couldn't move. Lyra's body moved before her mind did. Every instinct told her to bolt. But her feet were stuck to the ground. Because this wasn't like the rogues. This was different. He wasn't wild. He wasn't reckless. He was restrained. Deadly restrained. Kael Blackwood stood there, watching her. He'd been tracking his borders when he caught it. And something else under it. Not wolf. Not human. A mix. Something in between. And now she stood in the center of his territory. Injured. Looking like she'd been running for her life. Kael took one step forward. Lyra reacted instantly, stumbling back. She was panting like she'd run for miles. Kael moved.Just one step. Lyra jerked back on instinct, putting distance between them. "Don't come near me." Her voice cracked,but it was sharp. Kael froze. His eyes swept over her, slow and assessing. "You're hurt," he said, voice low. "It's fine," she shot back. The blood says it isn't. Lyra glanced down at her harm, she hadn't even felt how bad the cuts were. But she lifted her chin anyway. "I don't need help from you." Kael tilted his head.A ghost of a smirk. "Then how are you still breathing." Before she could answer. Kael's head tilted. "Then how did your survive?" Before Lyra could respond. A howl tore through the quiet. Near. Hay too near. Lyra's eyes went wide. "They found me..." She breathed. Kael's face went hard.His eyes cut to the treeline. "How many." "Too many," Lyra said fast. Kael let cut a slow breath. Then he decided. He stepped forward. Lyra stiffened "I told you not to-" Lyra's instincts flared.Every part of her wanted to run. But her legs wouldn't move. Because this man wasn't like others chasing her. He wasn't reckless. He wasn't wild. He was dangerous in a calm way. Too calm. Kael Blackwood watched her. He'd been walking his borders when he caught it. Blood. And something else under it. Not wolf. Not human. A hybrid. And now she was standing here. On his land. Looking like she'd been running for her life. One of them saw Lyra and sneered. Then his eyes moved to kael. He stopped. "...Alpha?" Kael said nothing. But the air got heavy. He didn't shout. He didn't have to. "I don't care who you are," kael said, voice like ice. "You're on my land." The rogue chuckled."That girl isn't yours, Alpha." Lyra sucked in a breath. Kael's gaze went dark. "She doesn't belong to anyone,he replied. The rogue grinned.", Then we'll take her." Everything happened at once. The rogue moved. And kael moved faster. It happened in a blink. The first rogue charged. Kael was quicker. one hit. The rogue slammed into tree wood. Splintered. Lyra stared,eyes wide. The second one attacked from the side. Kael caught it like it was nothing. But the third. It was fast. Too fast. It went straight for Lyra. "Move" Kael roared. Lyra didn't think. Her body moved for her. And something inside her broke. This claws came for her. "Move!" kael snapped. Lyra moved on reflex. And something inside her shifted. Her body reacted before her brain did- twisting away at the last second as claws lied through empty all. The rogue stopped. "...What?" Lyra looked down at her hands. That wasn't normal. Kael glanced over his shoulder at her. His eyes narrowed. Interesting. The rogue growled.She's nothing but s hybrid!" The rogue spat. "She's only a hybrid!" Lyra's head jerked up. Heat burst in her chest. Kael caught it instantly. "Don't push her," he warned, voice sharp. But it was too late. The rogue attacked again. Lyra reacted. Faster. Harder. She hit him with strength she didn't know she had, knocking him to the ground. Silence. Even kael went still. Lyra stood there,chest heaving, Staring at her hands. "What...was that?" she whispered. Kael studied her. Not like prey. Not like a stranger. Like something different. The last rogue took a step back. "This isn't finished!" The forest went quiet. Lyra's power drained out of her all at once, and she swayed. Kael caught her before she hit the ground. The second his hands touched her. A spark shot between them. They both went still. Kael's hold on her tightened on instinct. Lyra looked up at him,lost."Why does it feel like this?" Because he felt it too. Something ancient. Something tied. Something impossible. "...What are you?" he asked, voice low. Lyra swallowed. "Someone who doesn't fit anywhere." Kael held her gaze. Then he made a choice that would change everything. "Come with me." Kael watched her for a long time. Then, finally,he decided. "You're coming with me." Lyra went rigid."I'm not part of your pack." Kael's eyes narrowed. "This isn't about packs," he said. "It's about staying alive." And deep inside both of them- Something old woke up.